Vertical integration of GP practices with acute hospitals in England and Wales: rapid evaluation

Vertical integration of GP practices with acute hospitals in England and Wales: rapid evaluation In several locations across England and Wales, NHS organisations responsible for managing acute hospitals have also taken over the running of primary care medical practices. This report, commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research and undertaken together with the Health Services Management Centre at the University of Birmingham and the Health Services Research Group at the University of Cambridge, evaluates what has led to this kind of vertical integration in England and Wales, how it has been implemented, and with what consequences. RAND Europe

Monitoring the Mental Health Act in 2019/20: the Mental Health Act in the Covid-19 pandemic

Monitoring the Mental Health Act in 2019/20: the Mental Health Act in the Covid-19 pandemic Monitoring the Mental Health Act is the CQC's annual report on the use of the Mental Health Act (MHA). It looks at how providers are caring for patients, and whether patients' rights are being protected. This year's annual report puts a specific focus on the impact that the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has had on patients detained under the MHA, and on the services that care for and treat them. Care Quality Commission 

UK authorises Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

UK authorises Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine The government has today accepted the recommendation from the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to approve Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for use. This follows months of rigorous clinical trials and a thorough analysis of the data by experts at the MHRA who have concluded that the vaccine has met its strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness. Department of Health and Social Care 

See also:

• Care home residents to be reunited with families by Christmas Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Arrangements for visiting out of the care home Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Containing and managing local coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreaks Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: New Covid tier system comes into force in England

Coronavirus: New Covid tier system comes into force in England England has returned to a tiered system of coronavirus restrictions after its second national lockdown ended.

The tougher new system has come into force hours after being approved by MPs in a Commons vote.

The government said the move would help "safeguard the gains made during the past month", despite 55 Tories voting against PM Boris Johnson's plan. BBC News

See also:

• Covid Pfizer vaccine approved for use next week in UK BBC News
• Covid: Adults with learning disabilities 'miss out' BBC News
• Why is my area in a higher tier? BBC News
• Lockdown rules: Michael Gove's Covid claims fact-checked BBC News
• Covid data transparency row deepens as Michael Gove warns hospitals are 88% full The Daily Mail
• Britain records 13,430 Covid cases and 603 deaths as second wave continues to tail off The Daily Mail
• Leicester 'given thousands of unusable coronavirus tests' The Daily Mail
• Hugging set to resume in England's care homes with rapid Covid tests The Guardian
• NHS ready to provide Covid vaccine within days The Daily Telegraph
• Pfizer vaccine: Who will get it first and where is it being made? The Independent
• Pleas from survivor and NHS not to jeopardise the fight against Covid-19 ITV News

Private hospitals paid millions for unused beds as NHS waiting lists soar

Private hospitals paid millions for unused beds as NHS waiting lists soar Private hospitals have received millions of pounds from the taxpayer under contracts with the NHS despite two-thirds of extra capacity beds going unused for months during the summer, it has emerged. 

According to leaked documents obtained by the Health Service Journal (HSJ), a majority of beds in private hospitals over the four months from June to September were not used by the NHS. The Independent 

Maternity units rated ‘inadequate’ at NHS trust as parents demand inquiry

Maternity units rated ‘inadequate’ at NHS trust as parents demand inquiry Maternity services at one of England’s largest hospital trusts have been downgraded to inadequate over safety fears by the care watchdog the Care Quality Commission.

The regulator has taken enforcement action against Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, including imposing conditions on the trust and issuing it with a formal warning notice. The Independent

Puberty blockers: under-16s 'unlikely to be able to give informed consent'

Puberty blockers: under-16s 'unlikely to be able to give informed consent' NHS says clinic has suspended new referrals after pair, including woman who took blockers, win court case.

Children under the age of 16 considering gender reassignment are unlikely to be mature enough to give informed consent to be prescribed puberty-blocking drugs, the high court has ruled. The Guardian

Four more coronavirus deaths as Northamptonshire hospitals gear up for 'busiest' weeks

Four more coronavirus deaths as Northamptonshire hospitals gear up for 'busiest' weeks Nearly half intensive care beds are now being used to treat patients with the virus. 

NHS England confirmed four more coronavirus deaths as the number of Covid-positive patients in Northamptonshire's hospitals continues to rise. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Covid-19 infection rates are falling fast in these 11 areas of Northampton...but not fast enough Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Schools may close early for Christmas - these are the current plans across the four nations Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Police set to double number of Covid fines in Northamptonshire in just six weeks Northamptonshire Telegraph

Improving the nation's health: the future of the public health system in England

Improving the nation's health: the future of the public health system in England In light of the impact of the pandemic and the government’s decision to abolish Public Health England (PHE), this briefing explores what needs to be put in place to make progress on the government’s commitments to improve the nation’s health. It looks at the role government can play in improving the nation’s health before examining how England might transition to a new public health system and what the main priorities for any new system should be. Health Foundation 

Study reveals why one in four have found rules harder in second lockdown

Study reveals why one in four have found rules harder in second lockdown A new study from Ipsos MORI and the Policy Institute at King's College London reveals that one in four people (26%) say they’ve found it harder to follow the rules during England’s second national lockdown than they did during the first. 

See also:

• One quarter of Britons found the second national lockdown harder to follow The Daily Mail

How England will end new cases of HIV: final report & recommendations

How England will end new cases of HIV: final report & recommendations The HIV Commission is an ambitious, independent process to find the path to ending new HIV transmissions and HIV attributed deaths in England by 2030. Their report sets out twenty achievable and evidence-based actions that need to be taken if this goal is to be met. 

Digital health and Covid-19: a PRSB consultation

Digital health and Covid-19: a PRSB consultation This report examines the digital transformation of health and care services during the pandemic and recommends how the system can use the lessons from Covid-19 to advance digital change, while maintaining safety and prioritising citizen’s needs. The report is based on consultation with more than 100 PRSB members and partners including the Royal Colleges, social care system leaders, health care providers, patient groups, regulators and others. Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB) 

Integrating care: next steps to building strong and effective integrated care systems across England

Integrating care: next steps to building strong and effective integrated care systems across England This document gives details of NHS England's proposals for a more effective and responsive care system across England. It sets out how NHS organisations, local councils, frontline professionals and others will join forces in an integrated care system (ICS) in every part of England from April 2021. Patients, NHS staff, partner organisations and interested members of the public are asked to submit their views on the proposals. The closing date for responses to the consultation is Friday 8 January 2021. NHS England

Guidance: Liberty Protection Safeguards factsheets

Guidance: Liberty Protection Safeguards factsheets Information about the LPS system, which will be replacing the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

DoLS is the system used to authorise the care or treatment arrangements of an individual who lacks mental capacity to consent to their arrangements. These safeguards apply when a person is ‘deprived of their liberty’ in a care home or hospital, in England or Wales. Department of Health and Social Care 

Community testing to help lift restrictions in highest tiers

Community testing to help lift restrictions in highest tiers Details have been set out by the Government to help local areas detect asymptomatic cases and offer a route out of the toughest restrictions. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Policy paper: Community testing Department of Health and Social Care

Analysis of the health, economic and social effects of COVID-19 and the approach to tiering

Analysis of the health, economic and social effects of COVID-19 and the approach to tiering Over the course of this year much has been learned about COVID-19 and the measures it is necessary to take to combat it. This paper sets out some of that learning as well as the evidence and rationale behind the tiered approach. Department of Health and Social Care 

See also:

• England's Covid tiers impact report: what it says and doesn't say The Guardian
• No way to assess costs of Covid tiers against no action, Tory MPs told The Guardian
• NHS workforce ‘could not cope’ with third wave The Independent 

Covid-19: Lung damage 'identified' in study

Covid-19: Lung damage 'identified' in study Covid-19 could be causing lung abnormalities still detectable 

more than three months after patients are infected, researchers suggest.

A study of 10 patients at Oxford University used a novel scanning technique to identify damage not picked up by conventional scans. BBC News

See also:

• Hidden damage to lungs from Covid-19 revealed in new study University of Sheffield
• Covid vaccine: Rumours thrive amid trickle of pandemic facts BBC News
• Covid vaccine: Moderna files for approval in US BBC News
• Sally Davies: 'Poor public health made Covid worse' BBC News
• Covid-19: No plans for 'vaccine passport' - Michael Gove BBC News
• Covid UK: 12,330 new cases and 205 deaths in daily toll The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus lockdown England: 17m in Tiers 2 and 3 though cases fell The Daily Mail
• More than ONE-THIRD of children with coronavirus have NO symptoms of the infection The Daily Mail
• Novavax delays US trials for COVID vaccine and says late-stage study will begin 'in coming weeks' The Daily Mail
• The Government is wrong to suggest that only lockdown has saved us from an overflowing NHS The Daily Telegraph
• How the Government's mass Covid testing plan will work The Daily Telegraph
• Have hope – the UK has a track record of successful vaccine campaigns The Guardian
• Thousands refused help to self-isolate by cash-strapped English councils The Guardian
• Doubts raised over rapid Covid tests in plan for English care home visits The Guardian
• Matt Hancock under pressure to explain £30m test tube work for ex-neighbour The Guardian
• The speed of coronavirus vaccine development shouldn’t alarm you The Independent
• Covid deaths eight times higher than those from flu or pneumonia The Independent
• Jeremy Hunt criticises NHS bosses’ ‘inadequate, vague’ answers on Covid plan and staffing The Independent

Breastfeeding mums ‘lacked support’ during lockdown

Breastfeeding mums ‘lacked support’ during lockdown A leading breastfeeding charity in the UK says it is in "a desperate situation" trying to support mothers who have given birth in lockdown.

Between April and September, The National Breastfeeding Helpline answered 125 per cent more calls than they did in the same period last year.

Due to coronavirus restrictions, face-to-face professional and peer support was cancelled, and simple procedures like tongue-tie operations were severely restricted. BBC News

'I was at war with my body': my year as a day patient on an eating disorders ward

'I was at war with my body': my year as a day patient on an eating disorders ward At 32, I was given a choice: go to hospital every day – or risk a long wait to become an inpatient. Could I face down the demons that had stalked me since I was a child? The Guardian 

Google-owned DeepMind cracks 50-year-old 'protein folding problem'

Google-owned DeepMind cracks 50-year-old 'protein folding problem' DeepMind, the British-based artificial intelligence (AI) firm owned by Google, has 'largely solved' one of science's toughest and most enduring challenges.

The firm's new AI system, called AlphaFold, has cracked what is known as the 'protein folding problem' – the question of how a protein's amino acid sequence dictates its 3D atomic structure. The Daily Mail

Northamptonshire ‘still in serious trouble’ as data shows county is closer to Tier 3 than Tier 1

Northamptonshire ‘still in serious trouble’ as data shows county is closer to Tier 3 than Tier 1 A council leader has warned that Northamptonshire is ‘still in serious trouble’ after its Tier 2 status was announced earlier this week.

New data, revealed by the director of Public Health Northamptonshire at this week’s weekly Covid-19 press briefing, shows the county is closer to Tier 3 than it is to Tier 1. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Here is the graph which shows how close Northamptonshire is to Tier Three lockdown status Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Over 1,300 students sign up for rapid coronavirus testing at Northampton's university Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Covid-19 mass testing for students without symptoms gears up for launch day at University of Northampton Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Secondary school closes third year group as Covid-19 continues to disrupt Northamptonshire education Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Police hand out 'approximately 100' fines for breaking restrictions in Northamptonshire over past week Northamptonshire Telegraph

Dozens of Northamponshire nurses lobby MPs for 12.5 percent pay rise

 Dozens of Northamponshire nurses lobby MPs for 12.5 percent pay rise Northampton nurses are among hundreds in the East Midlands to call on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to increase their pay as part of a spending review this week. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Standing shoulder to shoulder: nursing with courage and compassion

Standing shoulder to shoulder: nursing with courage and compassion Shaped by my parents’ and my personal values, I was lucky to know early on what I wanted to do with my life – to become a nurse. Today my career has far superseded my childhood aspirations. I have worked for the National Health Service for more than 25 years in a number of organisational cultures, some of which I thrived in and others I just survived. These experiences, both positive and negative, impacted on my confidence, self-esteem and growth. As a black senior nurse I recognise the struggle many people of difference have in their leadership journey. I am passionate about promoting fairness, leading with compassion and creating culture where people can bring their best selves to work. The King's Fund 

The state of medical education and practice in the UK 2020

The state of medical education and practice in the UK 2020 This report finds that, despite the pressures caused by Covid-19, 89 per cent of doctors experienced at least one positive change during the pandemic. However, it found that black and minority ethnic doctors were less likely to share the positive experiences reported by many of their white counterparts. General Medical Council 

See also:

• ‘Long past time’ to address disparities in experience of white and BME staff NHS Employers
• GMC report shows GPs have been working hard throughout the COVID pandemic and highlights need for greater support over coming months Royal College of General Practitioners
• RCP responds to GMC report on state of medical education and practice Royal College of Physicians 

NHS to pilot potentially revolutionary blood test that detects more than 50 cancers

NHS to pilot potentially revolutionary blood test that detects more than 50 cancers An innovative blood test that may spot more than 50 types of cancer will be piloted by the NHS in a world-leading programme, chief executive Sir Simon Stevens announced.

The Galleri blood test, developed by GRAIL, can detect early stage cancers through a simple blood test, and will be piloted with 165,000 patients in a world-first deal struck by NHS England.

UK government secures additional 2 million doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

UK government secures additional 2 million doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine The UK government has today (Sunday 29 November) signed a deal for a further 2 million doses of Moderna’s promising vaccine candidate, bringing the total to 7 million doses for the UK. Department of Health and Social Care 

See also:

• At-risk groups to receive free winter supply of vitamin D Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Vitamin D supplements: how to take them safely Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Vitamin D supplementation during winter: PHE and NICE statement Public Health England
• PHE publishes COVID-19 vaccine guidance for health and social care workers Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: vaccination programme guidance for healthcare practitioners Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: vaccinator training recommendations Public Health England 
• Guidance: COVID-19: vaccinator competency assessment tool Public Health England

Covid infections in England fall by 30% over lockdown - React study

Covid infections in England fall by 30% over lockdown - React study Coronavirus infections in England have fallen by about a third over lockdown, according to a major study.  

Some of the worst-hit areas saw the biggest improvements - but, despite this progress, cases remained relatively high across England.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the data showed the country could not "take our foot off the pedal just yet". BBC News

See also:

• Official Statistics: REACT-1 study of coronavirus transmission: November 2020 interim results Department of Health and Social Care
• Covid: PM calls for 'unity' and agrees to publish data behind new tiers BBC News
• Covid-19: Don't 'take brakes off' Covid measures, says leading scientist BBC News
• Covid: Nadhim Zahawi appointed as vaccine rollout minister BBC News 
• Covid: Hospitals could be overwhelmed without new tiers - minister BBC News
• Covid-19: Mass testing a 'distraction' from vaccine rollout - health leaders BBC News
• Covid Christmas: 'Avoid board games and sleepovers' BBC News
• Student Covid testing begins for Christmas exodus BBC News
• NHS staff will face 'massive levels of burnout' and 'very fragile' mental health after the pandemic The Daily Mail
• Almost 250,000 women are overdue cervical smear tests this year due to Covid-19 The Daily Mail
• Police clash with anti-lockdown protesters on Oxford Street with 150 arrests The Daily Telegraph
• Angry Tory MPs turn on Gove after ‘overwhelmed NHS’ claims The Guardian
• Working in the NHS, it doesn't feel like any end to Covid is in sight The Guardian
• Nearly a third of English hospital trusts exceed first peak of Covid patients The Guardian
• Inspectors moving between Covid-hit England care homes without tests The Guardian
• Dominic Raab warns UK at risk of third wave of coronavirus – video The Guardian
• Covid vaccine: NHS hospital staff ‘could get first jab in just 10 days’ The Independent
• Boris Johnson climbdown as he offers to end lockdown tier system early to ward off rebellion from Tory MPs The Independent

Demand for public inquiry into NHS mental health deaths to be debated by MPs

Demand for public inquiry into NHS mental health deaths to be debated by MPs A mother fighting for a public inquiry into the death of her son and more than 20 other patients at an NHS mental health hospital in Essex has won a debate in parliament after more than 100,000 people backed her campaign. The Independent

Former Great Ormond Street porter admits sexual offences against boys over three decades at hospital

Former Great Ormond Street porter admits sexual offences against boys over three decades at hospital A former Great Ormond Street Hospital porter has admitted sexual offences against boys as young as six over three decades at the children's hospital. 

Paul Farrell, 55, has pleaded guilty to 58 child sex offences carried out between 1985 and 2020. The Daily Telegraph

Abuse of older people reaches 'unprecedented level' during pandemic

Abuse of older people reaches 'unprecedented level' during pandemic Abuse of older people is at "unprecedented levels" - with almost 2.7 million victims thought to be affected in the UK, a charity has said.

Hourglass gave the warning after it commissioned a survey which said 22 per cent of UK residents have personal experience of abuse of an older person, or know someone who has been targeted. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• One in five older people in the UK have been abused, poll finds The Guardian

Covid-19 tiers: Northamptonshire put in tier 2 post lockdown

Covid-19 tiers: Northamptonshire put in tier 2 post lockdown Northamptonshire will be in tier two when England's second lockdown ends on 2 December, it has been announced.

People in tier two cannot socialise with other households indoors and the rule of six will apply outdoors.

Prior to England's second shutdown, the county was subject to the lowest level tier one restrictions. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Northamptonshire in a 'precarious position' warns Public Health chief as NHS confirms five more coronavirus deaths Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Government confirms Northamptonshire in TIER TWO under new Covid plan Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northamptonshire health chief had to use online postcode checker to learn which tier we are in Northamptonshire Telegraph
• It is 'necessary' to put Northamptonshire into Tier Two under Covid Winter Plan, says Health Secretary Northamptonshire Telegraph
• This is everything you can and cannot do in Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 - rules explained in full Northamptonshire Telegraph

Free mental health support available on Christmas Day in Northampton

Free mental health support available on Christmas Day in Northampton As the colder days and darker nights draw in, and the festive period is around the corner, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's 'Changing Minds' team is here to provide support throughout Christmas. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Improving flow along care pathways: learning from the Flow Coaching Academy programme

Improving flow along care pathways: learning from the Flow Coaching Academy programme The Flow Coaching Academy (FCA) programme is based on a co-coaching model combined with elements of improvement science. It aims to support establishing multiple FCAs across the UK, to scale up the approach and to build a community of practice to share learning. The training focuses on both the technical and relationship skills required to deliver continuous and sustainable improvement. This learning report is based on the formative FCA evaluation completed in 2019 by RAND Europe and interviews with FCA programme leads during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Health Foundation 

How are the lives of families with young children changing?: the changing face of early childhood in the UK

How are the lives of families with young children changing?: the changing face of early childhood in the UK This evidence review reveals the extent of changes to family life in the UK over the last 20 years and highlights how these changes are experienced unequally across the population. The report argues that, without understanding family life today, the policies and initiatives that seek to address other key areas of society — education, the economy, health and mental health — will falter. Nuffield Foundation 

Listening to the voices of staff with disabilities

Listening to the voices of staff with disabilities Read this case study to find out how University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust improved their equality practice and the experiences of staff living with a disability. NHS Employers 

Unseen and undervalued: the value of unpaid care provided to date during the Covid-19 pandemic

Unseen and undervalued: the value of unpaid care provided to date during the Covid-19 pandemic This report finds that with every day of the Covid-19 pandemic that passes, unpaid carers are saving the UK state £530 million in the care they provide. Carers UK is calling on the Government to provide additional support for carers over winter and ensure those caring for more than 50 hours a week get access to a funded break. Carers UK 

Reducing health inequalities associated with Covid-19

Reducing health inequalities associated with Covid-19 This briefing, produced in partnership with Public Health Network, sets out core principles for understanding and taking action on health inequalities that have developed or worsened as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. It is intended to support NHS trusts during delivery of surge plans, as well as in service restoration and recovery action. NHS Providers

Flu vaccine uptake among people aged 65+ on track to be highest on record

Flu vaccine uptake among people aged 65+ on track to be highest on record Three-quarters (75%) of those aged 65 and over in England received the free vaccine so far this year – up from 72.4% at the end of the last flu season. Public Health England

Detailed guide: Full list of local restriction tiers by area

Detailed guide: Full list of local restriction tiers by area This page sets out the full list of local restriction tiers by area from Wednesday 2 December 2020. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Statement to Parliament: Returning to a regional tiered approach Department of Health and Social Care
• Speech: Renewing regional coronavirus restrictions in England Department of Health and Social Care
• Transparency data: Coronavirus cases in England: 26 November 2020 Department of Health and Social Care
• Transparency data: NHS Test and Trace (England) and coronavirus testing (UK) statistics: 12 November to 18 November Department of Health and Social Care
• Policy paper: Community testing - explainer Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS Test and Trace continues to  Department of Health and Social Care
• Weekly national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Public Health England

Oxford Covid vaccine: Regulator asked to asses jab

Oxford Covid vaccine: Regulator asked to asses jab The government has asked the regulator to assess the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, bringing the UK a step closer to a possible rollout. 

The referral to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) marked "a significant first step" in getting the vaccine "approved for deployment", the government said. BBC News 

See also:

• Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid vaccine 'dose error' explained BBC News
• Coronavirus: When can I get the COVID-19 vaccine? BBC News
• Coronavirus infections levelling during England lockdown BBC News
• Covid: Woman left blind after treatment delayed in pandemic BBC News
• Covid vaccine trials did not monitor whether participants wore masks, socially distanced The Daily Mail
• Is December 9 the day Britain starts its Covid vaccination drive? The Daily Mail
• Covid tiers: large parts of England in tier 3 restrictions after lockdown The Guardian
• Here's how to tackle the Covid-19 anti-vaxxers | Will Hanmer-Lloyd The Guardian
• Boris Johnson: 'If we ease off now, we risk losing control of this virus' – video The Guardian
• MPs’ fury as 55m people in England face months in top tiers The Guardian
• European regulator ‘very hopeful’ of delivering positive verdict on Covid vaccines before Christmas The Independent
• Coronavirus: Experts call for clarity and caution over Oxford vaccine trial results The Independent
• UK records 696 coronavirus-related deaths, highest daily total since start of May The Independent
• ‘How will we recover? What will we have left?’ The battle for survival inside Britain’s intensive care units The Independent
• Coronavirus: Government urged to ‘get a grip’ over reports of missing test results The Independent

Concern as FGM reports fall during pandemic

Concern as FGM reports fall during pandemic It is feared victims of female genital mutilation in England are not reporting cases because of delays and lockdown closures, charities have told the BBC.

It comes as new figures revealed 635 new cases were recorded from July-September - a fall of more than a third compared with the same period in 2019.

The Home Office and NHS England said clinics remained open - but victims have reported treatment delays. BBC News

Controversial 'virginity tests' sold by UK clinics

Controversial 'virginity tests' sold by UK clinics Women are being offered controversial "virginity tests" at British medical clinics, an investigation by BBC Newsbeat and 100 Women has found. 

The intrusive tests are considered a violation of human rights by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations, which want to see them banned.

Critics say they are unscientific, cannot prove whether someone is a virgin and can be a form of abuse. BBC News

NHS to trial blood test to detect more than 50 forms of cancer

NHS to trial blood test to detect more than 50 forms of cancer The NHS is to trial a simple blood test that may help identify more than 50 forms of cancer years before diagnosis, in what it hailed as a potential “gamechanger”. 

If successful the blood test, known as Galleri, could revolutionise early diagnosis of cancer and save many lives by identifying symptoms quickly enough for prompt treatment to make the difference between life and death. The Guardian

Head of NHS inquiry warns other families could be victims of cover-ups

Head of NHS inquiry warns other families could be victims of cover-ups The chairman of an inquiry that has confirmed a 20-year cover-up over the avoidable death of a baby has warned there are other families who may have suffered a similar ordeal. 

Publishing the findings of his investigation into the 2001 death of Elizabeth Dixon, Dr Bill Kirkup said he wanted to see action taken to prevent harmed families having to battle for years to get answers. The Independent

See also:

• Independent report: The life and death of Elizabeth Dixon: a catalyst for change Department of Health and Social Care
• Baby death ‘covered up’ for 20 years, damning inquiry finds The Independent
• The Dixon inquiry shames national NHS bodies for their inaction The Independent
• Elizabeth Dixon inquiry: ‘We have been failed by every agency possible,’ say parents The Independent
• NHS to get millions of pounds to help save babies’ lives The Independent
• Minister demands investigation into Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital ‘cover up’ The Independent

Generic drug price increases of up to 1700% have cost the NHS £76m

Generic drug price increases of up to 1700% have cost the NHS £76m An investigation by The Pharmaceutical Journal estimates that drug tariff price increases have cost the NHS an additional £76m in the past two years. The Pharmaceutical Journal

Six more coronavirus deaths confirmed at Northamptonshire's hospitals

Six more coronavirus deaths confirmed at Northamptonshire's hospitals NHS chiefs have today confirmed six more coronavirus deaths during a four-day period at Northamptonshire's hospitals. 

Wednesday's daily bulletin revealed that two Covid-19 patients died at Northampton General Hospital on Sunday (November 22) and one on Saturday. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

See also:

• Everything you need to know ahead of Thursday's big reveal on which tier Northamptonshire goes into Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• 'We are ready to go with Covid-19 vaccine in Northamptonshire as and when it is ready' Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Tier One. Two or Three? Here's when Northamptonshire will find out what Covid restrictions we will be living with Northamptonshire Telegraph
• GPs will be given 10 days notice before Covid vaccine rollout - who will get the jabs first? Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton mental health expert expects 'significant rise' in group numbers next year

Northampton mental health expert expects 'significant rise' in group numbers next year An army veteran who set up a mental health support group this year has said he expects an increase in the numbers of men joining in 2021. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Hospital bed availability at Northampton General Hospital Trust lags below pre-pandemic levels

Hospital bed availability at Northampton General Hospital Trust lags below pre-pandemic levels NHS Providers has warned the health service is facing a "real problem" across England, as the number of beds open to patients is still well below last year's figures.

NHS data shows an average of 728 beds were available overnight at Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust between July and September. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Social prescribing and NHS facilities: how could the NHS better use its facilities to support social prescribing, holistic care and community resilience?

Social prescribing and NHS facilities: how could the NHS better use its facilities to support social prescribing, holistic care and community resilience? The NHS Long Term Plan has pledged to refer at least 900,000 people to social prescribing by 2023/24 to help improve people’s wellbeing; the fitter, healthier and more socially connected people are, the less likely it is they’ll need to access local GP or other health professionals. This report, based on a survey conducted with over 2,000 people in England, shows that there's also a strong appetite from the public for these services. The research was commissioned by NHS Property Services. The King's Fund

Finding our own way home: a ‘big conversation’

Finding our own way home: a ‘big conversation’ This report, jointly written by the Housing LIN and Learning Disability England, outlines the key results from research conducted into the housing opportunities and blockages for people with a learning disability and/or autism. 

Covid-19: supply of ventilators

Covid-19: supply of ventilators This report recognises the achievement and the hard work, collaboration, and commitment of individuals across both the public sector and UK industry. However, it argues that the UK Government lost a month because it was “underprepared and reacted slowly” to the shortage of mechanical ventilators. It concludes that there was no plan in place to source additional critical care equipment needed in the event of an emergency. House of Commons Public Accounts Committee

Tiering decisions to be made through national command structure

Tiering decisions to be made through national command structure The Health Secretary will today set out in Parliament the tier which each local authority in England will fall under, in line with the measures set out in the COVID-19 Winter Plan published on Monday. Department of Health and Social Care 

Covid: Tiers and Christmas - a recipe for disaster?

Covid: Tiers and Christmas - a recipe for disaster? With England's lockdown coming to an end, it's all change.

A new system of regional tiers will come into force next week. That will be followed by a relaxation of rules at Christmas across the UK which will allow up to three households to meet over the festive period.

But scientists are warning the move risks a third wave of Covid. Is the government making a mistake? BBC News

See also:

• Government plan to exit lockdown is ‘full of risks and threatens to undo progress’ The BMA
• Covid: England's regional tiers to be set out BBC News
• Covid: US doctor's video simulates what dying patient sees
• Long Covid: How knowledge of ME could help sufferers
• Coronavirus: Doctors in South West England were sent 'clearly used' gloves in PPE blunder The Daily Mail
• Britain's daily Covid cases drop again week-on-week to 18,213 The Daily Mail
• Manufacturing error clouds Oxford's Covid-19 vaccine study results The Daily Telegraph
• UK scientists warn of third wave of Covid after Christmas The Guardian
• Hancock's former neighbour won Covid test kit work after WhatsApp message The Guardian
• Most of England to enter two toughest tiers when lockdown is lifted The Guardian
• Lockdown tier predictions - which areas are likely to be in Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 The Independent
• Boris Johnson facing growing backbench revolt over England tiers The Independent

Social care funding falls 'alarmingly short' - council directors

Social care funding falls 'alarmingly short' - council directors Extra funding announced for care services falls "alarmingly short" of the amount needed to meet demand, council directors in England have said. 

The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) said the £1bn the chancellor announced for social care was "fragmented" and "short-term".

It said Covid-19 had led to a huge surge in demand for care services. BBC News

Calls for permanently free hospital parking for NHS staff

Calls for permanently free hospital parking for NHS staff South Lakes MP Tim Farron has joined over 40 cross-party MPs in writing to the Prime Minister to call for hospital parking for NHS staff to be made permanently free.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced on March 25 the Government would cover the costs of car parking for NHS staff who he said were "going above and beyond every day" at hospitals in England. ITV News

Spending Review: Over a million NHS staff to receive pay rise as part of a cash boost for the health service

Spending Review: Over a million NHS staff to receive pay rise as part of a cash boost for the health service Over a million nurses, doctors and others working in the NHS will get a pay rise as part of a £3bn boost to the health service aimed at trying to bring down the enormous backlog in operations and scans due to the pandemic. iNews

See also:

• Spending Review does not provide the NHS ‘whatever it needs’, with funding for backlog ‘beyond inadequate’ The BMA
• Spending Review leaves NHS England £6bn short next year The Health Foundation
• Spending Review to fight virus, deliver promises and invest in UK's recovery HM Treasury
• The Spending Review is 'unlikely to be enough to address health and care pressures' The King's Fund
• Member briefing: Spending Review 2020 NHS Confederation
• Spending Review 2020 NHS Employers
• Nuffield Trust response to the Spending Review Nuffield Trust
• Spending Review: Key points from Rishi Sunak's statement BBC News
• Spending review: Rishi Sunak’s extra £55bn to fight Covid brings bill for the disease to £12,000 per household The Independent
• Key numbers and policies from Rishi Sunak’s spending review The Independent
• NHS staff will be awarded a pay rise next year, confirms Sunak Nursing Notes
• Public sector pay rises targeted at NHS and low income staff Personnel Today

Premature babies three times more likely to be hospitalised with infections in childhood, Oxford study finds

Premature babies three times more likely to be hospitalised with infections in childhood, Oxford study finds Premature babies are three times more likely to be hospitalised with infections later in childhood, a major Oxford study has found.

Health risks associated with being born earlier than 37 weeks (more than three weeks before the normal gestational period of 40 weeks) decline as children get older. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Gestational age and hospital admissions during childhood: population based, record linkage study in England (TIGAR study) The BMJ

NHS confirms four more coronavirus deaths at Northampton General Hospital

NHS confirms four more coronavirus deaths at Northampton General Hospital Four more coronavirus deaths have today been confirmed at Northampton General Hospital.

NHS England included the information in Tuesday's daily bulletin that two patients died on Sunday (November 22), another on Saturday and one more on Wednesday last week. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Mental health sickness absence rose by nearly a third at Northampton General Hospital in first Covid wave Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• People urged to 'be cautious' over Christmas as households told they can mix - what UK leaders have said Northamptonshire Telegraph
• The rules on forming a support bubble will change in December - find out if you’re affected Northamptonshire Telegraph

Kettering General Hospital 'needs £1.1bn to realise rebuild plans'

Kettering General Hospital 'needs £1.1bn to realise rebuild plans' An NHS hospital says it needs at least another £765m in government funding if its rebuild plans are to be fully realised.

Kettering General Hospital said £46m has been committed for an urgent care hub to replace its A&E department, as well as £350m for other improvements.

Hospital bosses says the funds fall "significantly short" of the £1.1bn cost of a fully new hospital. BBC Northampton

See also:

• KGH reveals rebuild plan - but pleads with Government to provide millions more in cash Northamptonshire Telegraph
• What KGH can do with the rebuild cash it has...and what it wants to do if it gets more Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Kettering MP promises to lobby for more cash for KGH's "exciting" plan Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS dental surgery fees in Northamptonshire jump by nearly £50 on average in space of five years

NHS dental surgery fees in Northamptonshire jump by nearly £50 on average in space of five years An investigation has revealed the cost of dental surgery under the NHS in Northamptonshire has jumped nearly 15 per cent in five years.

It comes with a warning from dentists that people are 'abandoning' vital NHS dental treatments because they cannot afford the rising fees. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

CQC survey finds many people are having poor experiences of community mental health services

CQC survey finds many people are having poor experiences of community mental health services People are consistently reporting poor experiences of NHS community mental health services with few positive results, according to an annual survey from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

CQC’s 2020 Community Mental Health Survey finds poor experiences were reported for support and wellbeing, crisis care and accessing care. People reported they did not always receive support for physical health needs, finding financial advice or finding and keeping employment, which are all key drivers for good mental health.

See also:

• Patients report waiting too long for mental health therapy on the NHS The Independent

A global science superpower: the future of medicines valuation

A global science superpower: the future of medicines valuation The government has set out it's ambition to become a world leader in the life sciences. This will mean supporting the ecosystem through investment and regulation, and ensuring new treatments deliver value for money. This briefing gives an overview of a discussion on this topic, hosted by Reform in October 2020. Reform 

Health and Social Care Secretary announces bureaucracy-busting drive

Health and Social Care Secretary announces bureaucracy-busting drive The new drive seeks to empower frontline health and care staff by reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and locking in positive change seen during the pandemic. Department of Health and Social Care 

See also:

• Consultation outcome: Reducing bureaucracy in the health and social care system: call for evidence Department of Health and Social Care
• Speech: Busting bureaucracy for people working on the frontline Department of Health and Social Care

The supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic

The supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic Today’s report by the National Audit Office (NAO) finds that government was initially reliant on stockpiles of personal protective equipment (PPE) that proved inadequate for the COVID-19 pandemic. In a rapidly deteriorating situation government made a huge effort to boost supply, but it has paid very high prices due to unusual market conditions and many front-line workers reported shortages of PPE. National Audit Office

See also:

• Covid: PPE price rises cost taxpayers £10bn, report says BBC News
• UK spent £10bn extra for Covid personal protective equipment due to an 'inadequate' stockpile The Daily Telegraph
• UK's 'chaotic' PPE procurement cost billions extra The Guardian

Coronavirus: support for rough sleepers

Coronavirus: support for rough sleepers This briefing paper outlines the measures taken in England to support rough sleepers, and those at risk of rough sleeping, during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. It discusses the impact of these measures and stakeholder comment. House of Commons Library

Covid-19: Three households can mix over Christmas in UK

Covid-19: Three households can mix over Christmas in UK Up to three households will be able to meet up during a five-day Christmas period of 23 to 27 December, leaders of the four UK nations have agreed.

People can mix in homes, places of worship and outdoor spaces, and travel restrictions will also be eased.

But a formed "Christmas bubble" must be "exclusive" and would not be able to visit pubs or restaurants together. BBC News

See also:

• Guidance: Making a Christmas bubble with friends and family Department of Health and Social Care
• Covid Christmas rules: UK leaders urge caution over household mixing BBC News
• Covid-19: What can and should you do this Christmas? BBC News
• Covid: How to keep the virus at bay this Christmas BBC News
• Covid vaccines: How safe are they really? BBC News
• Covid: Addenbrooke's Hospital nurse speaks of 'tired' staff BBC News
• Britain records 11,299 Covid-19 cases in lowest daily figure for almost eight weeks The Daily Mail
• Moderna's covid vaccine may NOT block covid-positive from spreading it The Daily Mail
• Matt Hancock claims Tier Three restrictions before lockdown weren't tough enough The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus England: Deaths rise 28% in one week to 2,466 The Daily Mail
• Healthcare workers should set example by getting Covid vaccine, says NHS boss The Daily Telegraph
• Heartbreak for lonely elderly kept out of Christmas bubble during pandemic The Daily Telegraph
• Oxford Covid-19 vaccine Q&A: what do the results show so far, and what happens next? The Daily Telegraph
• Families bereaved by Covid say UK plan to allow Christmas mixing is ‘sheer madness’ The Guardian
• Tier 1 lockdown rules in England: latest Covid restrictions explained The Guardian
• Tier 2 lockdown rules in England: latest Covid restrictions explained The Guardian
• Tier 3 lockdown rules in England: latest Covid restrictions explained The Guardian

Brain imaging technology designed for babies

Brain imaging technology designed for babies Scientists in the UK have demonstrated technology that could allow us to better understand a baby's brain during moments of natural activity. 

The brain imaging technology has been developed by teams from UCL, Cambridge University, the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge and Gowerlabs.

It uses high-density diffuse optical tomography (HD-DOT) and has been tested on six-month old infants. BBC News

Matt Hancock wants to use NHS testing system to fight flu after Covid

Matt Hancock wants to use NHS testing system to fight flu after Covid The NHS should routinely test people for illnesses such as seasonal flu once the coronavirus pandemic has passed, Matt Hancock has said, adding that he wants to end the UK’s culture of “soldiering on” and going to work while ill, infecting others.

Giving evidence to a Commons committee hearing, the health secretary said the mass testing capacity built up to deal with Covid could be repurposed to detect illnesses such as influenza, and thus limit the community spread of these as a routine intervention. The Guardian

See also:

• Don't go to work when sick, 'peculiar' Brits told BBC News

I'd be daft to guess which Covid tier we will be in, admits Northamptonshire health chief

I'd be daft to guess which Covid tier we will be in, admits Northamptonshire health chief  Northamptonshire's health chief says it would "daft" to guess which tier of Covid-19 restrictions the county will be in on Thursday.

Boris Johnson will reveal more details of a tougher three-tier system to replace the national lockdown on Thursday. But he warned: "many more regions will fall — at least temporarily — into higher tiers than before." Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Three areas of Northamptonshire that are 'bending the trend' over Covid-19 cases Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• England’s new tier system at a glance - and which areas could be in Tier 1, 2 or 3 Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• A third Covid wave could hit Europe if governments aren’t careful - read the latest WHO warning Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Boris Johnson announces new three-tier lockdown system for England - all the changes explained in full
• Wellingborough campus of community day special school closed due to Covid Northamptonshire Telegraph

Spending Review 2020: Priorities for the NHS, social care and the nation’s health

Spending Review 2020: Priorities for the NHS, social care and the nation’s health On 21 October 2020, the government announced it was abandoning plans to conduct a multi-year Spending Review in favour of a 1-year review to set budgets for government departments for 2021/22 only. The rationale for this shift was the continuing uncertainty created by the pandemic. The Chancellor stated that the Spending Review will ‘focus entirely on fighting COVID-19 and supporting jobs’, with multi-year resource settlements ‘fully funded’ only for the NHS, schools, and ‘priority infrastructure projects’. The Health Foundation

Long term care centres: making space for ageing

Long term care centres: making space for ageing By 2030, there will be a 60 per cent increase in the number of individuals with caring responsibilities in the UK. This shift in the kind of work that we will be doing will require not just new funding arrangements but also robust infrastructure and working conditions. This report proposes a network of long term care centres that can form a key part of the new ‘caring economy’ that delivers for those that need care and those providing it. Autonomy

Voices from the frontline of critical care

Voices from the frontline of critical care In October, the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine surveyed their members about their experiences and feelings during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. It finds that a majority of intensive care staff have increased their working hours, had leave cancelled and have covered sickness absences for colleagues during the pandemic. The report argues that supporting and maintaining the wellbeing of critical care staff is vitally important not only for recruitment by attracting multi-disciplinary team members, but also for their retention in the specialty. Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine

Exiting the lockdown – a strategy for sustainably controlling the transmission of COVID-19 in England

 Exiting the lockdown – a strategy for sustainably controlling the transmission of COVID-19 in England A report by the BMA warns that lifting lockdown without new measures in place would risk deepening the crisis in our health service and will leave hospitals and GP practices overwhelmed – unable to provide even the most critical of patient care.

The report outlines major reforms for England, once lockdown is lifted, to keep infection rates low and pull back the NHS from collapse this winter. British Medical Association

Review of interventions to improve outdoor air quality and public health

Review of interventions to improve outdoor air quality and public health This report reviews the evidence for practical interventions to reduce harm from outdoor air pollution, stratified by their health and economic impact. The focus of the review was on those actions available to local authorities and, where appropriate, the national actions needed to support them. The paper is accompanied by a guide to help local authorities to use the evidence to choose or plan interventions to tackle air pollution. Public Health England

Policy paper: Staying mentally well: winter plan 2020 to 2021

Policy paper: Staying mentally well: winter plan 2020 to 2021 The government's plans to support people's wellbeing and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic this winter. Department of Health and Social Care 

Detailed guide: Local restriction tiers: what you need to know

Detailed guide: Local restriction tiers: what you need to know Sets out the local restriction tier system that will be in place from Wednesday 2 December, including what you can and cannot do in each tier. Department of Health and Social Care 

See also:

• Guidance: COVID-19 Winter Plan Department of Health and Social Care
• PM statement on COVID-19 Winter Plan: 23 November 2020 Department of Health and Social Care
• Test to Release: England introduces testing strategy for international arrivals Department of Health and Social Care
• Mitigation of risks of COVID-19 in occupational settings with a focus on ethnic minority groups Public Health England

Covid: How will I get a coronavirus vaccine?

Covid: How will I get a coronavirus vaccine? The UK government is confident that some of the most at-risk groups will be vaccinated before Christmas, and most over-50s before the spring.

More people may be offered a vaccine during 2021, if one is approved by UK regulator, the MHRA.

It will only authorise a vaccine if one meets strict safety, quality and effectiveness standards. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: What is the Oxford vaccine and how does it work? BBC News
• Prof Sarah Gilbert: The woman who designed the Oxford vaccine BBC News
• After lockdown: What is the new three tier system? BBC News
• Covid-19: Arrivals in England to be able to cut quarantine if they pay for test BBC News
• Grandparents in care homes could be allowed home for Christmas The Daily Mail
• Health volunteers who signed up in coronavirus crisis could be kept in 'NHS Reserve' The Daily Mail
• Covid-19 tests: What you need to know about the Government's mass testing plan The Daily Telegraph
• British Medical Association warns Boris Johnson's lockdown exit plan is 'full of risks' The Daily Telegraph
• The Covid vaccine results are great news, but it's not all over yet The Guardian
• Boris Johnson sets out new three-tier system of Covid restrictions for England The Guardian
• Work from home until April if possible, PM tells England's workers The Guardian
• Covid-19 vaccines: Everything you need to know The Independent
• Covid lockdown: What does the three-tier Christmas strategy mean? The Independent
• Government winter plan admits Christmas mixing will spread coronavirus The Independent
• COVID-19: PPE stockpile at Felixstowe 'costing taxpayers £1m a day' Sky News

Excess deaths in UK 'a fifth higher than normal'

Excess deaths in UK 'a fifth higher than normal' The total number of deaths occurring in the UK is nearly a fifth above normal levels, latest figures show.

Data from national statisticians show there were almost 14,000 deaths in the week ending 13 November.

Some 2,838 of the deaths involved Covid - 600 more than the preceding week, according to the analysis of death certificates. BBC News

'My OCD got worse in lockdown'

'My OCD got worse in lockdown' The number of people seeking help for obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, since the coronavirus pandemic started has risen sharply in the UK. 

OCD is a mental health condition where a person has uncontrolled distressing and intrusive thoughts which can drive them to carry out repetitive behaviours.

Exclusive figures given to BBC News by the charity OCD Action, show they’ve seen an unprecedented increase in people needing support – with more than 1500 reaching out to the charity over just three months. BBC News

Child protection referrals surge after first lockdown as councils report rise in mental health issues

Child protection referrals surge after first lockdown as councils report rise in mental health issues Child protection referrals have surged in the months following the UK’s first lockdown as local councils report an increase in demand for mental health and family services, The Independent can reveal.